"While other holidays often get more attention for their kid-friendly features, there’s something very special about Thanskgiving. It’s a time of year where we’re encouraged to take a step back and reflect on all of the things that make us fortunate in life. And, it’s the perfect chance to model this mindfulness for our children, as well.
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As the seasons continue to change and it starts to feel like things are slowing down a bit, it’s the perfect time to gather and spend time with loved ones. You don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving dinner to engage in some quality time with your little ones, though. Now’s the perfect time to make some new memories, and we can’t think of a better way to do just that than an afternoon in the kitchen making yummy Thanksgiving treats to share.
If you can’t think of the perfect treat, don’t worry. We’ve complied a list of the best festive Thanksgiving treats that we know your little turkeys will gobble up.
Thanksgiving Drinks
1. Thanksgiving Punch
Don’t worry, this Thanksgiving punch can be served without alcohol to make it kid friendly. Not only is it a delicious drink, but it will make your whole house smell like fall.
2. Apple Cider Floats
This recipe takes root beer floats to a whole new level—and we are here for it!
3. Three-Ingredient Caramel Apple Cider
When you work up a thirst from baking Thanksgiving pies, whip up this three-ingredient caramel apple cider for everyone to share.
4. Homemade Hot Chocolate
It’s time to face it—it’s starting to get chillier out. When the weather cools off, my favorite way to keep my hands warm is to never be too far away from a cup of hot chocolate.
Sweet Thanksgiving Treats
5. Apple Pecan Bread
Any form of a sweet bread is one of my favorite treats because it can be eaten at any time of the day. Breakfast or dessert? Take your pick.
6. Pecan Caramel Cheesecake Bars
Cheesecake in bar form is the best. Make sure you get a bite because it won’t last long.
7. Pumpkin Pie Rice Krispie Treats
Rice Krispie treats happen to be one of my favorite treats from my childhood. I guarantee if my mom and I had put together this pumpkin pie version back in the day, it wouldn’t have lasted longer than a few hours.
8. Maple Brown Sugar Cookies
Though apple and pumpkin are the Crown Jewels of the season, let’s not forget about another delicious fall flavor: maple.
9. Sweet Potato Casserole Bites
These sweet potato casserole bites are so cute and yummy. It’s easy to go back for seconds!
10. Chocolate Lasagna
Just when I thought nothing could ever top actual lasagna, this curve ball of a recipe shows up. Layers of chocolate? I’m sold!
11. Pumpkin Cheesecake Overnight Oats in a Jar
Pumpkin cheesecake for breakfast? Sign me up. The natural sweet flavors like maple syrup and vanilla greek yogurt will make this a go-to in my household.
12. Turkey Treat Bags
How cute are these turkey treat bags?! Not only will your little ones love to eat them, they’ll have fun putting them together too.
13. Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow
This is the autumnal spin on one of my favorite sweet treats that I never knew I needed but couldn’t be happier that it exists.
14. No-Bake Salted Caramel Pumpkin Bars
There’s nothing better than when a recipe starts out with the words “no-bake.” I know I’ll be whipping these up fast as an after school treat. It’s an easy treat to repeat throughout the week.
15. Pecan Pie Bars
Love pie but want to switch it up a bit? Try these decadent pecan pie bars that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
16. Cranberry Orange Gluten Free Biscotti
Your kids will love to pair these biscottis with their hot cocoa this season. Cheers!
17. Nutter Butter Turkey Cookies
When a treat is as fun as it is tasty, I’m hooked. These nutter butter turkey cookies are simply too cute to pass up and a perfect way to celebrate the holiday.
18. Easy Apple Pie Bites
When you don’t want to make a whole pie but have a hankering for the flavor, these simple apple pie bites will be perfect.
19. Easy Pumpkin Ice Cream
Ice cream is appropriate all times of the year, even when it’s chilly outside. Make it extra festive at home by making this easy pumpkin ice cream recipe.
20. Apple Spice Cupcakes with Cinnamon Frosting
There’s not much that’s more fun to make together as a family than cupcakes, and this recipe is perfect for this time of year. Your little ones will be arguing over who gets to lick the bowl!
21. Sweet Potato Biscuits with Marshmallow Icing
Have these sweet potato biscuits as a side with your dinner this Thanksgiving. It’s a creative twist to the classic bread roll.
22. Turkey Oreo Balls
If you or your little ones are a fan of the sandwich cookie like me, Oreo balls don’t even need to look this cute for me to want to gobble them up, it’s just an added bonus.
23. Mini Pumpkin Bundt Cakes
We can’t get over how adorable these mini bundt cakes are and we’re even more impressed by the taste!
24. Chocolate Covered Pretzel Pumpkins
This recipe doesn’t just turn out adorably, it’s also super simple and one that everyone will have fun making together.
25. Homemade Pumpkin Pie Pudding
In my opinion, pudding is one of the most underrated treats. It’s simple and delicious, and this pumpkin pie version takes it to the next level.
26. Brown Butter Pecan Cookies
I know this isn’t possible, but I can practically taste these cookies melting in my mouth just by looking at them, and that’s enough for me to give them a try.
27. Pumpkin Cake
Sometimes we’re just in the mood for cake. This pumpkin cake is perfect for the season and will leave your taste buds fully satisfied.
28. Baked Apple Empanadas
Honeycrisp apples, cinnamon, vanilla, and more fall ingredients come together in these warm, delicious empanadas.
29. Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
Who needs store-bought Thanksgiving treats! Make everyone’s favorite sugar cookies from scratch at home with this delicious recipe.
30. Dutch Apple Cookies
Beware: once you bake these you won’t be able to stop eating them. But we promise, these yummy Thanksgiving treats are worth every calorie.
31. Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
Think Ritz Bits peanut butter sandwiches, but replaced with pretzels and peanut butter that’s actually creamy, all coated in yummy chocolate. You’re left with bite-sized mouthfuls of joy that won’t disappoint. Swap in an alternative creamy filling for a nut-free option!
32. Chocolate Caramel Apple Bark
Homemade caramel sauce meets silky chocolate, salty pretzels, and sweet-tart juicy apples in this rather healthy rendition of holiday bark. The flavorful variety of so many tastes at once makes it hard to stop eating. Garnish it with some colorful sprinkles for an extra fun Thanksgiving treat!
33. Pumpkin Cookie Dough Dip
What kiddo doesn’t jump at the chance to eat spoonfuls of cookie dough batter before it has made its way to the oven? This pumpkin cookie dough dip recipe doesn’t let raw eggs ruin the delight of diving right into the batter! Makes a great pairing with apple slices and cinnamon sugar pita chips.
34. Caramel Apple Trifles
For delightful parfaits that slip in a serving of fruit, try this layered cinnamon treat. It combines brown sugar and cinnamon-spun apples, cinnamon granola, and fresh cinnamon whipped cream. Kids will love having a helping hand in the whipping cream process, witnessing the cream transform into its cloud-like final result.
35. Turkey Fruit Plate
For when you’ve all indulged in enough sugary, creamy treats, try creating this colorful and elaborate fruit plate, arranged into the appearance of a turkey thanks to the Bosc pear for the turkey’s body!
36. Roly Poly Pumpkin Cookies
Got kiddos who appreciate the pumpkin cheer of the season, but can’t stand the taste? This is the perfect frosted sugar cookie recipe that showcases pumpkin in appearance only! To make these Thanksgiving treats extra kid-friendly, invite them to join in the frosting decorating process and to sprinkle some of their favorite candies on top.
Savory Thanksgiving Treats
37. Fall Charcuterie Board
This kid-friendly fall charcuterie is such a fun idea to put together and snack on with your little ones. Put this together before throwing on one of your family’s favorite movies and you’re in for the perfect night.
38. Fall Chex Mix
Mix things up your next family movie night by swapping the same old popcorn with this seasonal Chex Mix treat. We wouldn’t be surprised if it’s gone before the opening credits are complete.
39. Caramel Apple Popcorn Bars
When sweet and salty flavors are combined it’s almost always a wonderful combination. These caramel apple popcorn bars bring the best of both worlds together in perfect harmony.
40. Thanksgiving Blessing Mix
A DIY snack mix that incorporates a dimension of gratitude that’s very ’tis the season. While this food blogger includes a free printable of blessings, you can certainly change up this mix’s ingredients and come up with your own recipe of blessings!
41. Potato Cheese Balls
What’s Thanksgiving if it doesn’t have potatoes? But this time, spice it up with some potato cheese balls. Your family will be asking you for the recipe.
Brett Nicole Hayden, Assistant Editor
As the Assistant Editor, Brett works with the editors of The Everymom on the content creation process by updating stories, sourcing images and graphics, and pitching and contributing her own articles. Her favorite topics to write about are culture, relationships, and living. She’s also The Everymom’s resident baby names and family movies expert!
Patty Schepel, Editorial Intern
As the editorial intern, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathons—she ran one 16 weeks pregnant—traveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.